Speaking Exercise:    top

Instructions:    Discuss the following questions with the members of your group.

  1. How often do you speak English outside the ESL classroom?
  2. What are the differences between children and adults as far as learning a new language?
  3. What are some of the stumbling blocks that you’ve encountered in trying to learn English?
  4. Do you think that speaking your own language at home has any advantages? 

$  Reading Exercise:     top   

Instructions:    

(1) Provide the missing letters in the following text.  Use context clues and word forms to assist you.   

(2) When you have completed the missing elements, compare your answers with your classmates’.  

(3) Finally, complete the comprehension questions that follow. 

Ask any adult who has tri_____ to learn a second language and (s)he will tell you that it can be a frustrating and difficult exper_____.  Although it is no less difficult for children to go through this process, there is a common misconception that language acquisition is a “relatively painless” process for children. The popular scenario that is perpetuated is the one of children of adult immigrants trans_____  for their parents who have not yet achieved competency in the new language.  In fact, most adults feel that they never really master the lang_____.  They point to their ever-present foreign acc_____  and their challenges with the minutia of grammar.  So, are children really better language learners than adults?  No doubt, there can be sig_____  individual differences depending on the degree of effort, motivation, social factors and the quality of teaching. 

Many explanations have been put forward for the apparent superior_____  of children to acquire a second language.  One theory suggests that children tend to exploit “motherese” (the simplified, repetitive communication bet_____  parents and children).  Another theory is based primarily on the belie_____  that younger learners tend to be more relaxed and willing to make linguistic errors, which ultimately leads to language success.  Notwithstanding, it should be noted that current linguistic research sugge_____  that this may in fact be a myth in that both children and adults experience similar fears and anxieties when learning a new language.  The one thing that most researchers tend to agree on is that in second language acquisition, “social factors” play a more significant role than “biological fac_____”.  Moreover, it is these “social factors” that account for the gap between adults and children in second language acquisition. 

So, once again we must return to that sa_____  question:  Do children learn languages faster than adults?  In the area of pronunciation, it is generally agreed that youth does play a factor in competency.  Studies suggest that the younger one studies a foreign language, the more “native” one sounds.  The old_____  the learner, the more difficult it is to alter the nature of the neurophysiological mechanism required in pronunciation.  Nevertheless, in all fairness it is unreasonable to compare the expectations placed on a child with tho_____  that are placed on an adult learner.  Children are often perceived as being “ideal” language learners because of the relative ease in which they learn to communicate in their peer groups.  It is important to note that language required by children tends to be much “simpler” in terms of grammar and vocabulary than that required for successful “adult communication”.  For an adult to achieve that same level of competency in a second language, (s)he will need to master advan_____  grammatical structures, idiomatic expressions, jargon and technical vocabulary.  

One thing is for certain; research has shed light on many misconceptions when it comes to second language acquisition.  Teach_____  need to be aware that “younger” doesn’t necessarily mean “faster”.  Effective language instruction involves a variety of methods such as:  group work, peer correction, individual instruct_____, theory and adaptability.  It has even been suggested that encouraging ESL students to speak primarily English at home may have a neg_____  impact on both children and adult learners.  Exposing children to complex grammatical constructions in their native language encour_____  them to construct similar complexities in English.  For adult learners, returning to their native language after a long day of ESL studies offers them a safe haven and a chance to relax and recharge their batteries for the next d_____  of study.  

1.   Underline the noun clause in the first sentence.

2.   The word “competency” (in the 1st paragraph) could be replaced by:  (a) quality  (b) proficiency  (c)  delicacy  (d) identity

3.  The expression “many explanations have been put forward” (in the 2nd paragraph) means:  (a) Researchers agree on many explanations.  (b)  Researchers exaggerate the superiority of children in language acquisition.  (c) Current research suggests many explanations for the apparent superiority of children over adults in second language acquisition.  (d) No one can agree on the conflicting explanations of language competency among researchers learning a second language. 

4. All of the following statements are true EXCEPT:  (a) When speaking a second language, age is an insignificant factor.  (b) Reading a bedtime story to your children in your native language, instead of English, may not be that bad after all.  (c)  Biological factors appear not to be as large of a factor as sociological factors in the acquisition of a second language.  (d)  Learning a second language can be both a rewarding and a frustrating experience. 

5.  What does the expression “shed light on” (in the 4th paragraph) mean?  [restate in your own words]

___________________________________________________________________________

6.  Why does the author say that returning to one’s native language can be a “safe haven” (in the 4th paragraph)?   [Write your answer in sentence format.]

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

7.  The word “neurophysiological” (in the 3rd paragraph) is:  (a) a noun  (b) an adjective  (c) a verb  (d) an adverb

8.  In your opinion, what are the two most important factors that contribute to success in learning a second language such as English?   [You can write your answer using either sentence format or point form.]

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

þ    Grammar Exercise:   top

Noun Clauses          

A noun clause is a dependent clause that works like a noun.  It can function as a subject or object of a sentence.  

 

[Here is an example of a noun clause as a subject.]     What she said caused quite a controversy.

 

[Here is an example of a noun clause as an object.]   Everyone believed what he said.

 

Noun clauses are introduced by the following words: 

when           who/whom          whether     that        where        what        if        why      which       how       whose        whoever/whomever

 

F Do not use question word order in a noun clause.  The subject must come before the verb in a noun clause.

Exercise One     top
Instructions:    What noun clause corresponds to the following questions?  
{The first question has been provided as an example.}

Question

Noun Clause

1.  What did Kathryn say?

I don’t know what Kathryn said.

2.  When did Jung write the e-mail?

 

3.  Where did you put the proposal? 

 

4.  How did Carlos discover the discrepancy? 

 

5.  Who is responsible for this mess?

 

6.  Whose leftover lasagna is that? 

 

7.  What did the Prime Minister say in her address?

 

Exercise Two      top
Instructions:    Provide an appropriate verb + “that” to complete each sentence. 

1. Experts ____________________ the earlier children are exposed to a second language, the sooner they can “master” its usage. 

2.  However, a recently published article in an academic journal ___________________ the previously held belief that adults encounter more stress than children when learning a new language may indeed be a fallacy. 

3. Jean Chretien, in an address to Parliament, _______________________ a campaign to increase literacy in our inner cities is necessary.

4.  Educators also __________________ proper nutrition is essential if a child is to succeed in both academic and physical pursuits.

Exercise Three     top
Instructions:    Underline the noun clause and indicate if the sentence is correct (C) or incorrect (I).

1.  The employees were unhappy with what had been included in the new collective bargaining agreement.

2.  Whoever wants to learn about ancient civilizations signing up for the tour at the museum.

3.  The teacher was unable to discover who had she excused from the test.  

4.  Early scientists did not know how to measure thermonuclear power.

5.  I’m not sure what is the time of the exam.

Exercise Four      top
Instructions:    Write your own noun clauses using the connector and the verb provided.

1.    why + said

________________________________________________________________________

 

2.  if + delivered

________________________________________________________________________

 

3.  whether + to go

________________________________________________________________________


J   Having fun with words.   top

Instructions:    Unscramble the words below.  

{Hint:  Many of the words can be found in the article that you read earlier.} 

1. acecnt________________

2. cisonqaiitu________________

3. eaherct________________

4. ouporncanntii________________

5. cciutemoamn________________

6. ramgarm________________

7. gtiisicunl________________

8. pga________________

9. rnralee________________

10. vuabocyarl________________